M 5.9 in China on 18 Dec 2023 15:59 UTC
Shakemap
Tsunami

Event summary

This earthquake is expected to have a high humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

Earthquake Magnitude: 5.9M
Depth: 10 Km
Lat/Lon: 35.7432 , 102.8272
Event Date: 18 Dec 2023 15:59 UTC
18 Dec 2023 23:59 Local
Exposed Population: 100 thousand (in MMI>=VII)
Source: NEIC us7000ljvg
Inserted at: 18 Dec 2023 16:41 UTC
INFORM Coping capacity of the alert score: 3.6 (China)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
  Earthquake
(Shakemap)
GDACS score
NEIC 2.1 2.1
us7000ljvg Scaled population (raster) 4.12  
  C1 shakemap -0.37  
  C2 shakemap 0.76  
  Country Vulnerability 0  
  INFORM_normalised 0.82  
Maximum expected impact using different data sources.

ShakeMap is a product of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program in conjunction with the regional seismic networks. ShakeMaps provide near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity following significant earthquakes.


Episode Timeline

IDAlertScoreDateMag, DepthMMI*Population**Tsunami risk***Delay (hh:mm)Source
1543047 2.2 18 Dec 2023 15:59 6M, 10km 7.62 160 thousand (in MMI>=VII) 00:19 NEIC
1543048 2.1 18 Dec 2023 15:59 5.9M, 10km 7.42 100 thousand (in MMI>=VII) 00:42 NEIC
The episode that generated the alert; the next major evaluations beyond 12 hours will not trigger additional alerts.
The episode that has the last updated information.
* The max MMI detected for sources having shakemaps;
** The population detected in MMI>=7 for episode with shakemap or in a 100km radius;
*** The tsunami max height.

Exposed population

The earthquake happened in China ,of Qinghai (population 4,938,862) . The alertlevel for this event is RED

Intensity Population
<1000 people
160000 people
260000 people
910000 people


Shakemaps Timeline

AlertShake id #ScoreepisodeidLat/LonMagnitudeDepthMax MMIDate shake (UTC)Delay (hh:mm) 
1 2.2 1543047 102.836/35.734 6 10 7.618 18 Dec 2023 16:22 00:22 (new episode)
2 2.1 1543048 102.827/35.743 5.9 10 7.522 18 Dec 2023 16:56 00:56 (new episode)
3 2.1 1543048 102.827/35.743 5.9 10 7.523 18 Dec 2023 17:15 01:15 (upd of #2)
4 2.1 1543048 102.827/35.743 5.9 10 7.523 18 Dec 2023 18:05 02:05 (upd of #3)
5 2.1 1543048 102.827/35.743 5.9 10 7.523 18 Dec 2023 21:24 05:24 (upd of #4)
6 2.1 1543048 102.827/35.743 5.9 10 7.523 19 Dec 2023 16:42 1d 00:42 (upd of #5)
7 2.1 1543048 102.827/35.743 5.9 10 7.421 28 Dec 2023 01:01 9d 09:01 (upd of #6)
8 2.1 1543048 102.805/35.739 5.9 10 7.421 04 Jan 2024 00:54 16d 08:55 (upd of #7)

Affected Provinces

Intensity Region Province Country Population
Qinghai China no people
Gansu China 100000 people
Qinghai China 44000 people
Gansu China 140000 people
Qinghai China 87000 people
Gansu China 720000 people
Qinghai China 230000 people
Gansu China 3.1 million people
Qinghai China 720000 people
Sichuan China <1000 people
Nei Mongol China no people
Ningxia China no people

Affected populated places. Areas of interest

Intensity Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
Ching-shui-kung Qinghai China Village - 29 km
Linxia Gansu China City 200000 people 37 km
Jishi Qinghai China Village - 39 km
Gando Qinghai China City - 48 km
Yongjing Gansu China Village - 49 km
Ganjia Gansu China Village - 52 km
Hezheng Gansu China Village - 57 km
Hualong Qinghai China City - 65 km
Minhe Qinghai China Village - 68 km
Hezheng Gansu China Village - 72 km
Hekou Gansu China Village - 73 km
Diaotan Gansu China Village - 74 km
La-ssu Gansu China Village - 75 km
Hezuo Gansu China Village - 84 km
Hung-ch'eng Gansu China Village - 86 km
Hsin-tien Gansu China Village - 88 km
Lanzhou Gansu China Major city 1.5 million people 91 km
Ledu Qinghai China City - 92 km
Lintao Gansu China Village - 100 km
Hsin-chieh Qinghai China Village - 132 km
Nyinba Gansu China Village - 145 km
Chankou Gansu China Village - 151 km
Gejiacha Gansu China Village - 167 km
Huangyuan Qinghai China City - 176 km
Gogen Gansu China Village - 193 km
Chiang-chia-ta-lu Gansu China Village - 196 km

see full list


Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Intensity Name IATA Code Elevation (m) Usage Runway type IFR Runway Length (ft) Distance
1676 0 100 km
Ljntao 1905 0 101 km

Dams

Intensity Reservoir Dam Name River Year Distance
Jishixia Yellow 2011 16 km
Yanguoxia Huang He 1970 53 km
Liujiaxia Huang He 1968 51 km
Gongboxia Huang He 2000 57 km
Bapanxia Huang He 1975 68 km

Nuclear Facilities

Site Type Name Country Distance
Site-Lanzhou Nuclear Fuel Complex Nuclear Fuel Cycle Lanzhou Nuclear Fuel Complex(LNFC), Gansu-Enrichment China 93 km
Site-Lanzhou Nuclear Fuel Complex Nuclear Fuel Cycle Lanzhou Nuclear Fuel Complex(LNFC,Gansu) China 93 km

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.